April 2011

04/30/2011

Saturdays are for secondhand clogs. 'Cause you know you don't want to be subjecting those new kicks you paid top dollar for to the rigors of weekend errand running. So let's see what you could be wearing instead!

[On my feet as I blog: God help me, you've caught me with a non-wood pair of shoes on my feet. At least they're a form of clog. I've got on the Quincy slingback clog from Kors by Michael Kors. Dressy if you want 'em to be, but they rawk with a pair of jeans.]

04/29/2011

And what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt! That's why it's sweet to have a passion for something. Something legal and emotionally satisfying. Something like, oh, I don't know,...shoes. Clogs in particular. Something that allows you to start each day's trip to the coal mine with an adventure on your feet. 'Cause without those wooden goodies (or whatever your passion has as the object of its desire), a typical workday can be a bleak experience.

Happily I have some moderately encouraging news to report in the world of clog styled footwear for men. I just stumbled across a handful of styles from Opening Ceremony that deliver what we delight in when it comes to wooden materials. And the fact that these shoes came on the market back in January and I didn't notice them 'til the end of April is attributable to the fact that they were not billed as clogs, but as loafers and oxfords. Wood soled they are, though. And apart from the fact that you'd probably need an executive's salary to justify dropping any coin on these shoes, they do represent a step in the right direction. Behold the Luc line from Opening Ceremony.

Meantime, budget considerations ruled the day for my friend Bob who was recently debating which direction to go for his maiden voyage into the world of clogs. You may recall he was just looking for a pair of easy-to-slip-on shoes for walking his greyhound. And after suggesting a number of styles to him, he scoured the internet and found himself a deal on a nubuck style from Cape Clogs. Well done, my friend! Welcome to the world of wooden goodness. This pair listed on UniformsMallUSA.com.

And finally, a few fashion photos of men in clogs culled from the web by regular reader Bill Cooley. Unfortunately, Mr. C. can't recall where he found them so I can't provide proper credit or a URL to let you read and discover more. But the images certainly provide a fitting conclusion to this Guy Day Friday.

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[On my feet as I blog: an all day in the home studio day today. So I took it easy with my olive green Kharma clogs from Sanita to keep me company.]

04/28/2011

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Bless the internet! Images of fabulous things to look at and to covet brought directly to your door. Now if there were only a way to make wood clogs with those 3-D printers we'll all be owning in a couple of years!

Reader Sara wrote in to say,

I'm such a fan of Reinhard Plank, their clogs are truly the best I've ever worn. Thought you'd like to know that Mona Moore now sells them on their website. I got mine here - www.monamoore.com.

And now you can, too. (Pay a visit to my original post about Reinhard Plank here.)

I also heard from an Alaska clog fan who spotted a couple of new stylse from Epaulet in their spring 2011 e-mailing, both in a unique purplish grey nubuck. I contacted co-owner Adele Berne to ask if she had more to say about her newest offering.

Oh, great! Yes, this nubuck is stunning. Sure, I could talk about this all day.

I sourced this "Ash Lilac" from Horween Tannery in Chicago, the best leather source in the United States. I worked directly with Nick Horween in finding a nubuck that would be beautiful and fashion-forward for the season. The nude look is so on trend right now and when I saw this swatch I knew it would be perfect.

The name "Ash Lilac" really says it all. It has a gorgeous pale grey tone with an undercurrent of lilac. It's a neutral without being ordinary and is really stunning on any skin tone!

We'll also be doing this in a boot and more sandals later in the season.

And finally, I noticed that Cape Clogs has added clog boots to their wide variety of wood soled footwear. And I mean that "finally" in a couple of ways. There's the gentle remonstrance to the Cape Clogs folks for taking so long to add a boot style to their line up. But there's also the more stern scolding I'm giving myself for not noticing the style sooner and telling you about before most of the available sizes are sold out. I should point out that the "finally" also works as I wrap up today's post with this final set of shoes. The VASA line of clog boots can be found on the Cape Clogs website, but because of the way they've set up their online presence, I can't link you directly to the pages. Drill down to find that for which you seek.

Just to be thorough, I should add that the VASA clog boots are currently only available in tan and red. And although they've clearly let us know that the purple and the lime are coming soon, there's no explanation for the difference in styles of heel.

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[On my feet as I blog: I know you might think I'm a bit obsessed (well, duh), but for the third time in four days, I've got my new Truffle colored XRAY clogs from Bernardo Footwear on my feet. There's something strangely irresistible about wearing a fresh color of a style I already know I love and find comfortable. Pardon me while I indulge.]

04/27/2011

I have to admit, this slower pace of "must have" clogs is quite welcome. Last year was a frenetic whirl with new styles turning my head on a bi-weekly basis. But now, the shoes that scream "Buy me now!!!" are fewer and farther between. Which is a good thing. After all, it gives me time to enjoy the styles I already own. See? One can be sensible without having to wear sensible shoes!

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1. Karla clog sandal from Lucky Brand

For those of you not wrestling with thunderstorms and downpours in the midwest this week, a sunny spring sandal like this style can be quite appealing. I have the weather forecasts for the cities where my son and daughter are in college show up on my kitchen chumby. Quite often one or the other of them will be basking in warmer weather than I am huddled atop my heated mattress pad here in northern Illinois. Today my daughter was the winner. 75° was the high in Brooklyn. That beat my 59° day by a long stretch.

No, it's not a wooden clog. But it is a Kork-Ease. And for those of you who remember trying to decide whether to wear your Olaf Daughters clogs to school that day or your Kork-Ease platform sandals, this pair deserves consideration.

This style is indeed a mouthful. It's a clog! It's a shoe! It's a boot! Maybe that laundry list helps to optimize the item for web searches. All I know is that it's got enough clog themed design touches to make me take a closer look.

I gave this one a nod in yesterday's feature on Nine West '70s platforms. At the time I didn't realize how many options it was available in. There's a style for every outfit. And I would not be the one to criticize if you stocked up your closet accordingly!

I did highlight this boot when Stylebop.com first carried it back in October. But the layout with the mannequin was too sweet to ignore. And since it's still available, and since there's still plenty of weather for it to come in handy where I live, I thought why not bring it 'round again?

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[On my feet as I blog: it was a two clog day today. My Beet Root XRAY clogs for a classroom speaking engagement this morning. My Seychelles square toed clogs for relaxing this evening. No doubt about it. Having a selection to choose from is wonderful thing!]